High-Performance Computing (HPC) Support Analyst / Administrator - Department of Information Technology Services at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidate’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Operating system installation and maintenance:

• Coordinating with HPC administrators, engineers, and other IT staff to resolve complex system issues, plan for upgrades, or implement new systems and tools;
• Monitoring and coordinating the implementation of patches, updates, and security fixes to ensure the stability and security of the system;

Cluster task management, system installation and maintenance:

• Deploying, configuring, and managing cluster task (queue) management software to allocate computing resources efficiently;
• Monitoring system performance and optimising cluster utilisation; 

Cluster storage and internal network management:

• Administering storage solutions for high-performance data access and storage;
• Allocating and managing storage resources according to research requirements;
• Implementing backup and disaster recovery strategies to safeguard research data;

Security and compliance:

• Ensuring that users adhere to security protocols, and that the system remains compliant with relevant policies, including access control and data protection;
• Reporting on detected security incidents;

User and front-end management:

• Providing user support and assistance in accessing and utilising HPC resources;

Documentation development and training:

• Developing and maintaining comprehensive documentation for HPC system configuration, usage, and troubleshooting procedures;
• Conducting training sessions and workshops to educate researchers on HPC best practices and utilisation techniques;

HPC application support:

• Assisting users with software installation, job submissions, performance optimisation, and resolving issues encountered on HPC systems;
• Diagnosing and resolving technical issues with hardware, software, or job execution. This includes resolving problems related to system crashes, slow performance, or software errors;

Liaison with stakeholders:

• Collaborating with faculty members, researchers, and other stakeholders to understand their computational needs and requirements;
• Communicating technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A relevant Bachelors/BTech degree; with

A total of four years’ experience in:

• Linux system administration and shell scripting;
• Basic network administration;
• Basic software development and implementation;

OR

• A relevant three-year National Diploma; with

A total of six years’ experience in:

• Linux system administration and shell scripting;
• Basic network administration;
• Basic software development and implementation.